Auburn Planning Commission Meeting Summary: October 22, 2026

The Auburn Planning Commission met for a regular session. The agenda, staff reports, and transcript identify the meeting date as October 20, 2026, but the instructed meeting date for this summary is October 22, 2026, so that date is used in the title. Present: Chair Steve Hiatt, Vice Chair Glen Kramer, Commissioner Hobbs, and Commissioner Johnson. Commissioner Lehmberg was absent. The commission considered three major items and made recommendations to the City Council on all three by unanimous 4-0 votes, except where noted.

Approval of Minutes

• Approved the August 18, 2026 study session minutes by a 4-0 vote.
• Approved the October 6, 2026 minutes with Vice Chair Kramer and Commissioner Hobbs voting aye; Chair Hiatt and Commissioner Johnson abstained because they were not present in person / attended via Zoom; Commissioner Lehmberg was absent.

Public Comments & Testimony

Auburn Station Infill Plan

• Susie DeFawcett expressed concern about the proposed density, traffic, noise, tree removal, and air quality, and suggested reducing the unit count and preserving more open space.
• Kelly Lardner asked whether Fulweiler Avenue traffic and on-street parking had been studied; staff responded that project traffic was analyzed and would not trigger removal of on-street parking, and that future project review could revisit it.
• Jackie House noted that public hearing comments are part of the administrative record and referenced her written EIR comment about state parking-reduction rules.

Auburn 2045 General Plan / Blocker Drive Parcel

• Stephen Mead, the Blocker Drive property owner, asked the commission to recommend Alternative 2, which would designate the property for industrial use, saying the city had directed him toward light industrial and that he was seeking consistency with the zoning under which he purchased the property.
• Wayne Nader, a former Placer County planning commissioner, supported the industrial alternative, citing economic benefits and stating the property is well suited for it.
• Many residents, including Jackie House, Gary Mappa, Jeff Wharton, Jerzy and Claudia Spikowski, Craig Buxton, Linda Newhouser, Bill Pennington, Caroline Meinhold, David Agar, and Rhonda Wharton, urged the commission to retain the Medium Density Residential designation and reject industrial use, citing neighborhood compatibility, traffic, environmental, and housing concerns.
• Sherry Perkins presented a petition with 211 verified signatures supporting the residential designation for Blocker Drive.
• Tyler Friesen, a business owner and environmental consultant, said the General Plan EIR was very solid and supported it.
• One speaker supported industrial use at the site, saying it might create less traffic and noise than housing.

Cannabis Retail Ordinance

• Dr. Mark Vaughn, medical director of Auburn Medical Group, raised concerns about cannabis use disorder, emergency-department visits, and adolescent brain-development effects, and asked whether the city had consulted the medical community in Grass Valley/Nevada City.
• Adam Torella opposed the ordinance, citing a Northern California adolescent health study, the proposed reduction of the school buffer from the 600-foot state default to 200 feet, and community-character concerns; he asked the commission to continue the item or recommend denial.
• Jason Wedge, speaking on his own behalf as an Auburn Union School District trustee, raised public-safety and school-proximity concerns and asked for more studies on police resource impacts.
• Jim Dion and Tim Dion, associated with Golden State Patient Care in Colfax, supported the ordinance, describing their record since 2003 and medical-cannabis benefits.
• Crystal Schmidt, Judy Rhody, and Tom Crandall supported regulated access, with Rhody advocating meaningful consideration of local ownership.
• Robert Lesbridge opposed the ordinance, calling cannabis retail a blight and saying people moved to Auburn to avoid such uses.
• Kelly Lardner asked that the Chana Drive candidate area be removed from the map, citing a residential pocket, safety, and lack of nearby retail history.

Discussion Items

Auburn Station Infill Plan and Final EIR

• Staff from AECOM presented the plan for a 10.5-acre portion of an approximately 17-acre Placer County-owned property adjacent to the Auburn Transit Station. The plan includes two concept options: Option 1 would preserve The Domes and allow 238 multi-family units, 3,375 square feet of retail/commercial space, and 295 residential parking spaces; Option 2 would redevelop the entire Plan Area and allow 315 units, 3,375 square feet of retail/commercial space, and 390 residential parking spaces. Both options are planned at 30.1 dwelling units per acre.
• The Final EIR identifies five significant and unavoidable impacts related to aesthetics, historical resources, and noise/vibration. Mitigation would reduce other impacts to less-than-significant levels.
• Commissioners noted the site's proximity to transit, school, shopping, and Old Town and the potential for transit-oriented housing. No commissioner expressed opposition.
• The commission adopted a motion recommending Council certification of the FEIR, adoption of CEQA findings, a Statement of Overriding Considerations, and a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, and acceptance of the Auburn Station Infill Plan.

Auburn 2045 General Plan and Final EIR

• The General Plan update is the culmination of a roughly three-year process. It covers the 7.2-square-mile city and a larger planning area of about 29 square miles, with a projected buildout of approximately 2,570 housing units and 4,400 jobs by 2045.
• The Draft EIR had a 52-day public comment period ending September 21, 2026. Staff reported 58 written comment letters and 12 oral comments. The Final EIR was published October 13, 2026. Significant and unavoidable impacts remain in cultural resources, noise, and transportation.
• The proposed General Plan as drafted designates the 14.3-acre Blocker Drive parcel as Medium Density Residential. The EIR alternatives include Alternative 2, which would designate it for industrial use.
• During discussion, Chair Hiatt said Auburn needs nonresidential jobs, noted the site's proximity to rail and existing industrial/utility uses, and moved to amend the General Plan recommendation to change the Blocker Drive designation to industrial. Commissioner Hobbs said industrial use could be acceptable with proper buffering. Commissioner Johnson said both uses would change the area but viewed light industrial as a net benefit. The motion carried 4-0.

Draft Cannabis Ordinance

• Staff presented an ordinance that would repeal Section 159.019 and add sections creating a retail cannabis licensing and zoning framework. It would establish C-2-RC, C-3-RC, and OB-RC zoning designations in four commercial areas: portions of Downtown High Street, two Highway 49/near-highway areas, and the Nevada Street corridor.
• The ordinance would cap retail cannabis permits at one per 8,500 residents and no more than two citywide. A permit holder would need a city retail cannabis permit, a conditional use permit, and a state Type 10 license.
• A staff survey of 188 responses found approximately 86 percent support for allowing cannabis retail, roughly 60 percent support for multiple licenses, 54 percent preferring Highway 49 locations, and 36 percent preferring Downtown.
• Staff estimated a full year of operation could generate $200,000 to $300,000 in additional city revenue and noted Prop. 64 Public Health and Safety grants available to cities that allow retail cannabis, including $3 million grants to Grass Valley and Nevada City.
• Commissioners asked about site selection, school setbacks, law-enforcement input, and revenue estimates. Chair Hiatt initially suggested expanding the definition of youth center to include private youth instruction, but withdrew the suggestion after staff explained the intended definition.
• The commission adopted a motion recommending Council adoption of the ordinance and zoning map amendments.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the August 18, 2026 minutes (4-0).
• Approved the October 6, 2026 minutes with two abstentions and one absence.
• Adopted Resolution 2026-08 recommending City Council certification of the Auburn Station Infill Plan FEIR, CEQA findings, Statement of Overriding Considerations, MMRP, and acceptance of the Plan (4-0).
• Adopted Resolution 2026-09 recommending City Council certification of the Auburn 2045 General Plan FEIR, CEQA findings, Statement of Overriding Considerations, and MMRP (4-0).
• Adopted Resolution 2026-10 recommending City Council adoption of the Auburn 2045 General Plan, amended to change the Blocker Drive parcel designation from Medium Density Residential to industrial/Alternative 2 (4-0).
• Adopted Resolution 2026-11 recommending City Council adoption of the cannabis retail ordinance and zoning map amendments (4-0).
• Next steps: The City Council is scheduled to consider the Auburn Station Infill Plan and the Auburn 2045 General Plan/EIR recommendations on November 9, 2026. The cannabis ordinance will proceed to the City Council, with a possible second reading in November or December. Staff also reminded the commission of a November 17, 2026 HDRC meeting.
• The meeting adjourned by unanimous consent after the final action.